8 days could have easily turned to 8 weeks or 8 months for me, but responsibility has a way of always bringing you back to reality. And here I sit, completely connected to the world, BlackBerry on one side, TV remote on the other, fingers gliding across this slick little piece of technology.
I am always so taken by other cultures, other people. The Ticos are such a warm and friendly bunch, proud of their country and glad to hear how much the extranjeros (foreigners) enjoy its rich beauty. Each time we would chat with another local, we would be swept into a conversation about the lush jungle, the gorgeous beaches and towering mountains. They just don't seem to miss one ounce of the beauty surrounding them.
I like that.
I have come back from this trip very pensive, very adentro (inside myself). Brian and I are on this incredible journey through life with so many blessings and so much joy, but I can't help but dream and want for more. Not "more" in the American sense, like a bigger home or nicer clothes. But "more" in the spiritual sense, a longing to see more of the world, to experience a larger sphere ouside the states.
Spanish has been such a magical language for me, providing tunnels that guide me to that sense of more. I delighted in speaking Spanish when I lived in Spain in college, and to be able to communicate with the people of Costa Rica in their native tongue was intoxicating. It is such a beautiful language filled with so much nuance and romance, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn it.
Costa Rica left a calm in me as well. It was a splendid gift to be able to take home, and my only hope is that I cling to it and not let life's stresses peel it away. Their lives are so much simpler, so much more tied to the land. And while no place is devoid of heartache and pain, I felt a different sense of fullness in Costa Rica.
About halfway through our trip we were able to go to the organic market just off the beach and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables just plucked from the countryside. Because the homes are designed to be mostly outdoors, we spent our evenings cooking delicious meals in the open air kitchen and enjoying each other's company on Cody's vast porch. It was so fun, so simple... Pura vida.
I think Brian and I will forever be changed by this amazing vacation. Already since we have been home we have spent more time reading, cooking, pondering, taking things a little slower. We're both on edge with the anticipation of our real lives flooding back towards us, me heading back to work and Brian starting school in just a few weeks. But I think there is something we can at least close our eyes and focus on - an unforgettable sunset, the way the wind felt racing through our hair on the country roads, the sound of the ocean telling you everything would be alright.
Inhale, exhale. And a sigh of gratitude. That has been our rhythm, and my prayer is that my heart keeps beating that way...
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1 comments:
That is a beautiful sunset on the beach. Happy to hear that you had such a rich experience and a safe trip home!
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